ABSTRACT
This paper presents the initial results of a study designed to measure the ability of transrectal ultrasonography (TU) in determining the degree of local invasion of rectal cancer, comparing the preoperative radiographic diagnosis with the histological one. The series consists of 30 patients. In 24 cases preoperative TU was performed--following confirmation of the histological diagnosis--and in six cases UT was used after surgery to study the anastomosis. The postoperative group consists of eight males and 16 females, with a mean age of 70; in 14 cases the tumors were located in the lower third of the rectum, and in 10 cases in the middle third. In 12 of these 24 cases, pelvic CAT was also performed. TU showed the correct stage in 17 of the 24 (70.8%), with two false positives and five false negatives. CAT showed the correct diagnosis in 10 out of 12 (83%), with one false positive and one false negative. In the follow-up of the surgical patients, TU was normal in five cases and local recurrence was diagnosed. On the basis of our results, we consider that TU is a method with a high degree of diagnostic reliability in preoperative staging of rectal cancer; it can be associated with CAT; furthermore, it is an important screening method for early diagnosis of local recurrence at the suture line. Its main drawbacks are in studying high and stenosing lesions.
